Dublin City Council is excited to present the inaugural Bram Stoker Festival: My Name Is Dracula. The public are invited to venture into the unknown for a gothic ‘scarefest’ from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th October.
The weekend will kick off with a special event with bestselling US crime author Patricia Cornwell on Friday at 7.30pm, in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin, Stoker’s alma mater. The author will discuss how the serial killer has become the modern day equivalent of the vampire and compare characters, plots and stories of Stoker to her own books. Tickets are €12 and €10 concession
The world of Bram Stoker will be documented in a unique exhibition of memorabilia of his life and work between 1847 – 1912. This very special collection will be showing in the Little Museum of Dublin, Stephen’s Green throughout the festival. Rarities to be featured include; The earliest inscribed copy of Dracula, Bram’s first publish short story – The Crystal Cup, Stoker family artefacts that have never been seen in public, and the first Irish translation (1933) of Dracula. Entry tickets are €5.
And of course, there is plenty for the kids too. There will be interactive childnre’s and teens workshops and events on offer over the weekend. On Saturday at 10am, Trinity College Dublin will welcome double award winning children’s author Celine Kiernan for Blood Red Ink; an intensive writing workshop with a difference. She will explore the essentials of brilliant fiction writing that isn’t taught in school. If your kids are fascinate by bats, the Batty Habits and Scary Stories is taking place in Smock Alley Boy’s School at 11am. Find out about native Irish bats and the truth about vampires with RTE’s Dale Treadwell. Author illustrator Oisin McGann will reveal how to create a vampire-inspired story in pictures. Then later in the afternoon actors Owen Roe and Donna Dent will perform Gothic Tales from the Crypt, an exciting hour and a half of chilling vampire and horror stories, from 3pm in Christchurch Catherdral.
Families can look forward to a special performance from award-winning street theatre company, Spraoi. The fascinating characters and vivid imaginings of Bram Stoker will be conjured up with the majestic courtyard of Dublin Castle on Sunday evening October 28th.
There will also be terrible treats for all who dare take to the streets on the weekend leading up to Halloween. For more information on any of the events, times and tickets visit www.bramstokerfestival.com or email info@bramstokerfestival.com
